Dodgers Owner Peter O'Malley has joined city officials in
supporting a refurbished L.A. Memorial Coliseum as the best home
for a new NFL franchise, according to Jodi Wilgoren of the L.A.
TIMES. O'Malley, viewed in the past as a potential competitor to
the Coliseum's efforts, vowed not to offer his own proposal for a
new facility until the NFL "has thoroughly considered the
Coliseum." In a letter to City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas,
the Coliseum's "chief advocate," O'Malley said a year of research
showed it would be feasible to build a new stadium next to Dodger
Stadium, but that he would prefer to see a pro team play at the
Coliseum. O'Malley: "We are impressed by the show of unity for
the Coliseum site by the city's elected officials. ... The
Dodgers will join you." Ridley-Thomas, on O'Malley's
endorsement: "Competition has been replaced by unity. This
solidifies the team in a very significant way." Wilgoren writes
O'Malley's backing leaves the Coliseum "virtually without rivals"
and also lends the project "badly needed credibility." Although
O'Malley himself would not specify what role he would take in
working on the project, sources close to negotiations believe it
might be as owner of a new team or as an investor in the stadium.
BIG GUY ON BOARD: NFL officials called O'Malley's
endorsement "very important" but said it does not change their
position on the facility, which will be will considered during
meetings in New York and next month in New Orleans. NFL Dir of
Communications Greg Aiello, on the L.A. situation: "We're still a
long way off from having a solid stadium plan in place in Los
Angeles" (L.A. TIMES, 9/17).
